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Feb. 14, 1956 G. A. BRACE 2,734,216

SUCTION CLEANER HAVING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT AND HANDLE LOCK Filed Oct. 19, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4O llllllllfl 3 I I v 52 2 25 c ""7 61 4 51 i 8 I. 46 41 Q 6 11 L f l f E 51 4 w 10 T L 41 \l 23 W1; 1 MI 40 I III 7 INVENTOH.

' 34 6807329 A. 57'46'6 25 BY 5M 5912 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 14, 1956 G. A. BRACE 2,734,216

SUCTION CLEANER HAVING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT AND HANDLE LOCK Filed Oct. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mwsmon. G rye A- Brace Y i 5, M 7 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 14, 1956 G. A. BRACE 2,734,216

{ SUCTION CLEANER HAVING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT AND HANDLE LOCK Filed Oct. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Geo/ye fl. Brace ATTORNEY.

Unite SUCTION CLEANER HAVING EL ADJUST- IWENT AND HANDLE LUQK George A. Brace, Highland Park, ilL, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application (retainer 19, 1950, Serial No. 196,965

8 Claims. (Cl. 15-333) The present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to a novel safety control for automatically elevating the power driven agitator whenever the called to answer the door or telephone, or is moving furniture.

States Patent Previous attempts to avoid these hazards have proven unsatisfactory for failure to provide for all contingencies, or because the structure has been too complex, or because they required some initiating action on the part of the operator.

Experience has demonstrated that the average operator uses the propelling handle in one of two operating ranges, i. e. a normal range extending generally between an angle of 458() to the horizontal, and a lower range extending between 0-30" to the horizontal. The space between these two ranges is not ordinarily used except as a temporary inclined rest position for the handle.

The present invention provides a simple, automatic arrangement responsive to the presence of the handle in this inclined rest position to raise the agitator out of contact with the carpet so long as the handle is in the inclined rest position. Another feature of the arrangement is that the cleaner cannot be converted to olf-the-floor operation until the agitator has been elevated.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a suction cleaner having automatically operable means for safe-guarding the carpet against injury from the agitator which is responsive to release of the handle by the operator during normal cleaning operations.

Another object is the provision of means for insuring that the agitator is incapable of contacting the carpet as a prerequisite to conversion to off-the-fioor operation.

A still further object is the provision of means for automatically elevating the agitator above the carpet whenever the propelling handle is released and allowed to drop into its inclined rest position.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a linkage between the propelling handle and the carriage wheels of the cleaner operable to elevate the agitator when the handle is permitted to occupy a predetermined position. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of .a suction cleaning apparatus embodying my invention;

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Figure 2 is a broken bottom plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view of a handle structureand nozzle elevating mechanism drawn to an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the position of the parts with the handle in an intermediate atrest and nozzle elevated position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a modified form of handle mounting; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the modified device of Figure 6 in an intermediate nozzle raised position.

Referring now to the drawing and first to Figures 1 to 3 thereof, there is illustrated a suction cleaner body or frame member 1 carrying a suitable plastic covering hood 2 on the upper surface thereof encasing the top portion of the frame 1 and operating mechanism therein contained. The frame 1 is provided with a suction nozzle 3 at its forward end communicating with an air passageway 4 which terminates in the suction eye 5 of a suction air fan 6. The suction air fan is positioned within a volute housing 7 forming a part of the frame 1 and is provided with an exhaust duct l; leading to the rear of the cleaner at which point it is connected to an air filtering and dirt entrapping member The suction air fan 6 is driven by a motor, not shown, which is positioned above the fan 6 within the hood 2. The motor has a suitable shaft supporting the fan 6 which terminates in a drive pulley it) below the fan for driving a belt 11 which in turn drives a cylindrical surface brushing and agitating member 12 rotatably supported on the body 1 within the nozzle 3. a

The front poition of the cleaner is provided with wide tread supporting wheels 15 carried by stub shafts 16 which are secured to the underside of the frame 1.

A pair of spaced bosses 20 depend from the fan chamber 7 rearwardly of the fan eye 5 and pivotally support the bight portion of a generally U-shaped rear wheel supporting bracket 22. The bight portion of the bracket 22 is movably secured in the bosses 20 by removable bottom closure caps 23. The rearwardly extending ends of the base portion of the bracket 22 are bent outwardly at right angles to the legs of the U to form stub shafts 25 upon which rear supporting wheels 26 are rotatably mounted.

As shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 3, a U-shaped bracket 23 is riveted to the frame 1 on the/longitudinal center line thereof above the exhaust passageway 8. A pivot bolt 29 is carried by the bracket 28 and pivotally supports a manipulating handle 30 which extends up through a suitable slot in the hood 2. A cotmter-balanc ing spring 31 is wound about the pivot bolt 29 and has its ends engaging stops 32 on the handle and 33 on the bracket so as to counter-balance part of the weight of the handle when it is in any position other than the vertical storage position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3'.

Cam plates 34 are positioned on opposite sides of the handle 3% within the hood 2 and in spaced relation thereto. The plates 34- are circular in outline. L-shaped bracket plates 37 and 38 are secured to the handle and the inner faces of the plates 34, as by welding, to maintain these in rigid spaced relationship with the handle. As shown most clearly in Figure 3, the lower ends of the plates 34 depend into slots 46 formed in the frame 1 on opposite lateral sides of the exhaust duct 8. The bottom portions of the slots 40 are defined by lugs 41 formed integrally with the exhaust duct t5 and extending outwardly laterally on opposite sides thereof over the wheel supporting stub shafts 25.

Each of the plates 34 is formed with a cut out portion .to form a stop or retaining surface 42. The surface 42 is 2x3 formed as the arc of a circle drawn about the center of the handle pivot except for a locking projection 43 adjacent one end thereof which forms a locking depression 44 with the end of the cut out portion of the plate. Thrust rods 46 are pivotally mounted on each of the stub shafts 25 and extend upwardly through suitable bores in the lugs 41. As shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 3, the bores through the members 41 through which the rods 46 extend are somewhat larger in diameter than the rods 46 so that the rods pass loosely therethrough; consequently, the bores allow a slight pivoting motion of the rods without binding as they raise up and down, such pivotal motion being due to the arc of movement of link 22. The upper ends of the rods 46 are right angularly bent and carry headed studs 47 upon which are mounted bearing rollers 48 seating in the cut out portions of the discs 34 and bearing on the surfaces 42. Compression springs 50 surround the lower portions of the thrust rods 46 and bear against the underside of the lugs 41 and bearing retainer cups 51 carried by the lower ends of the rods 46. The springs 50 bias the rollers 48 into engagement with the surface 42 to establish the relation of the wheels 26 to the casting l. The length of the rods 46 is such that the suction nozzle 3 and agitator 12 are normally maintained in surface cleaning position as illustrated in Figure 1. Suitable collars 52 are carried on the stub-shafts 25 to provide proper spacing between the wheels 26 and the lower ends of the rods 46 which are pivotally mounted on the stub-shafts.

In the apparatus as illustrated in Figure 2 the cover plate 45 which covers the bottom surface of the air duct 4 and fan eye and defines the rear lip of the nozzle 3 is omitted for clarity. The apparatus is provided with a known type of conversion apparatus for conditioning the apparatus for ofi-the-floor cleaning which consists of a passageway 60 extending from one lateral side of the air duct 4 to one outer lateral side of the frame 1. The inner end of this duct is normally closed by a spring pressed gate 61 to prevent air leakage into the air duct 4 during normal operation of the cleaner. A part of the duct 60 is cut away at 62 to provide a slot for a converter barrier mechanism now to be described. The carrier comprises a roller 63 pivotally carried by an arm 64 having a slot 640 receiving a pin 64b on a lug 65 depending from the underside of the frame 1. The rear end of the arm 64 is pivotally secured to one of the stub-shafts 25 between the wheels 26 and associated collar 52. In the normal position of the parts illustrated in Figure l the springs 50 maintain the parts in such a position that the barrier 63 is across the converter passageway 60 and prevents the insertion of a converting tool to convert the apparatus for off-the-fioor cleaning operation. When the rear wheels of the apparatus are raised toward the frame 1, by a mechanism to be described hereinafter, the barrier arm 64 pivots in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 to remove the barrier 63 from the passage 60 to permit insertion of a converting tool into the duct 4.

It is apparent from Figures 1 and 2 that the springs 50 bias rollers 48 into engagement with the surfaces 42 and normally determine the position of the rear wheels rela tive to the cleaner body casting 1. When the handle is moved to the vertical storage position illustrated in Figure 1, the roller 48 rides over the projection 43 to lodge in the locking slot 44 thus releasably locking the handle in upright position. If the cleaner is lifted by the handle in this position the engagement between the parts 43, 44 and 43 maintains the cleaner body structure in fixed relation with the handle. If it is desired to lower the handle from the storage position illustrated in Figure 1 to its operating range of movement, in which the handle has some relation other than a 90 angle to the surface supporting the cleaner, a slight downward pressure on the handle will compress the springs 59 and allow the roller 48 to rise above the projection 43 after which a slight angular movement of the handle will position the rollers 45 on the surface 42 for normal operation of the device.

The springs 50 normally maintain the rollers 48 in engagement with the surfaces 42 but these springs will give in response to an unusual handle thrust to cause the nozzle to rise above its normal cleaning position. Such unusual handle thrust may be applied by the operator when starting forward motion of the cleaner with the handle close to the vertical, when operating on certain types of very deep pile carpets and when maneuvering the cleaner over obstructions. The raising of the nozzle under any of the foregoing circumstances materially aids propulsion thereof.

When the apparatus is to be converted to ofi-the-fioor cleaning operation it is highly desirable to raise the suction nozzle above its normal surface cleaning position in order that the agitator structure 112 will not engage carpeting or other material on said surface and thus overload the motor and wear the carpet if the machine is allowed to remain in a fixed position for a long period of time. It is also desirable to raise the cleaning nozzle above surface cleaning position should the operator release the handle with the cleaner operating without raising the handle to the storage position. For these purposes, a mechanism is provided which operates automatically at a certain position of the handle to lift the nozzle. In normal usage of the cleaner the handle swings through an arc of movement varying approximately from 45 to 80 to the horizontal. Cleaners are also used at times with the handle in a substantially horizontal position in order to insert the cleaner under low furniture. There is however a section of the range of handle movement which is rarely if ever used in normal cleaning operation. This unused range of movement is one in which the handle is too low for any normal manipulation of the cleaner and too high for manipulation under low furniture. According to the present invention this unused range of movement of the handle is utilized to operate a mechanism to raise the nozzle above the surface cleaning position.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 4 and 5, the plates 34 are provided with wide angle V-shaped slots radially outwardly of the cam surfaces 42. The apices of the slots 70, the handle pivot pin 29, and the rollers 48 lie in a common plane when the handle is in the normal rest position slightly below the 45 position. A latch dog 71 is mounted on the outer face of each of the plates 34 by means of a headed pin '72 having its end portion extending through and riding in the slot 70. A tension spring 73 is connected between the outer edge of each plate 34 and a portion of the associated latch dog or catch 71 having its point of connection to the outer edge of the disk on a radial line drawn from the center of the disk through the central portion of the V-shaped slot 70. The catches 71 are therefore adapted to pivot on the pins 72 and to shift bodily with respect to the plates 34 by reason of slidable movement of the pins 72 in the slots 70. The free ends of the catches 71 are notched at 76 to engage with keeper springs 77 attached to the plates 34. The foregoing parts are so proportioned and positioned that the notches 76 engage the keeper springs when the pins 72 are in the apices of the slots 70 in which case the tension springs 73 are aligned with the notches 76 and pins 72 and the springs 77 releasably latch the parts in this position. A pair of stops 74 are positioned outwardly slightly beyond the opposite ends of each V-shaped slot '70 to form stops for the swinging catches 71 under the bias of the springs 73.

Each catch 71 has a notch in one edge thereof extending inwardly beyond the center of the catch so as to cross the line of action of the spring 73 when the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 5. The notches 75 incline from their open ends inwardly and slightly downwardly toward the pins 72 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. A shoulder 80 is formed on the edge of each catch 71 opposite the notch 75. The shoulders 80 do not extend inwardly to the center lines of the catches and are preferably not significantly inclined toward pins 72. The springs 73 will bias the catches 71 into engagement with one or the other set of stops 74 and the pins 72 to one or the other ends of the slots 70 in all positions of the catches except when the catches are engaged with the keeper springs 77. The stops 74 are so positioned that the notches 75 or shoulders 80 project above the surfaces 42 in the path of movement of the rollers 48 when the catches engage the right or left hand stops 74, respectively, as viewed in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring now to Figure 4, the parts are shown in the locked storage position of the handle. If the handle is released from locked position the rollers 48 ride upon the surfaces 42 between the catches 71 and projections 43 which is the normal upright operating range of pivotal movement of the handle. If the handle is released, or rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 4, while the rollers 48 are between catches 71 and projections 43, the handle pivots downwardly which rocks the plates 34 to swing the catches 71 toward the rollers 48 until the rollers engage in the notches 75. After the rollers 48 engage in the notches 75, further pivotal movement of the handle rocks the catches about the pins 72 increasing the tension of springs 73 and raising the rods 46 to raise the rear wheels against the bias of the springs 50. That is, the catches 71 cam the rods 46 upwardly against springs 45 to raise the rear wheels which elevates the nozzle and agitator to an inoperative position. At some point in the pivotal movement of the catches, the pins 72 slide into the apices of the slots 70 and the parts assume the position of Figure in which the pin 29, catches 71, pins 72, apices of slots 70, springs 73 and rods 46 are aligned. In the foregoing circumstances the rear wheels are drawn up close to the main body 1 and the nozzle is elevated above normal cleaning position. The condition illustrated in Figure 5 is stable and the cleaner will remain in that condition until the handle is removed therefrom by the operator. Clockwise rotation of the handle, viewed in Figure 5 will restore the apparatus to the upright operating condition of the handle unless rotation is continued to lock the parts with the handle in storage position as illustrated in Figure 4; and counterclockwise rotation of the handle, viewed in Figure 5, will actuate the catches 71 to the dotted line position of Figure 5 with the nozzle in cleaning position and the handle in the low operating range of movement. If the handle is raised from the low operating range of movement, the rollers 48 engage the shoulders 80 and rock the catches 71 toward the full line position of Figure 5 but the rollers 43 are now maintained on one side of the center line of the catches 71 and the stable condition of Figure 5 cannot be established, instead; the parts are rotated until the pins 72 slide to the apices of the slots 70 at which time the pins 72, rods 46 and rollers 43 are aligned and further lifting of the handle causes the catches 71 to shift the Figure 4 position.

When the parts are in the Figure 5 position, the keeper spring 77 has sufficient strength to retain the handle in fixed position against that part of the handle weight not balanced by the counter-balancing spring 31. As an incident to the lifting of the rear wheels toward the body casting 1, as the handle is moved to the position of Figure 5, the barrier 63 pivots out of the converter passageway 60 and the cleaner may be converted to offthe-floor cleaning operation by inserting a suitable tool into the passageway 60. After the converter tool is inserted the handle may be moved to another position without lowering the nozzle as the converter barrier 63 will engage the converting tool and maintain the nozzle in raised position.

The above described arrangement of the swinging catch provides a means for lifting the rods 46 an extensive amount radially inwardly of the surfaces 42 without "6 utilizing a large angular movement of the handle forthe" purpose.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, elements corresponding to elements previously described in connection with Figures 1 to 5 are given the same reference characters distinguished by the addition of a prime. In this embodiment, the swinging catches 71 and their associated parts are replaced by raised earns 93 having small depressions or lands 96 in their top surfaces. The cams 93 rise out of the control sector surfaces 42. In order to release the handle from the locking position illustrated in Figure 6 downward pressure is applied to the handle to compress springs 50' on the wheel support carriage sufiiciently to release the rollers 48' from the depression 44'. The handle is then free to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6. If the operator releases the handle, the unbalanced weight of the handle rides the cam 93 under the rollers 48 until the rollers 48 rest in the depression 96 which raises the rear Wheel structure to cause the cleaner body to pivot backwardly and raise the nozzle above normal surface cleaning position. The rear lip of depression 96 is preferably higher than the front lip thereof as a safeguard against over-riding of the cam and to provide a stable angular rest position for the handle as illustrated in Figure 7. A slight additional pressure on the handle in this position will ride the cam 93 beyond the rollers 48 which then engage the lower portions of the surfaces 42' for operation of the cleaner with the handle in horizontal or low angular relation to the surface being cleaned.

This form of the invention is simpler than that shown in Figures 1 to 5 and is preferred where the cleaner design will permit the use of a control sector 34 having a comparatively large radius such that the circumferential extent of the cam 93 does not occupy too great a portion of the pivoting range of the handle.

Both forms of the present invention provide a simple and etlfectivestructure in which the biasing springs for the rear wheel support also position the converter barrier and set the means for locking the handle in storage position. The handle is releasable by a slight downward pressure which compresses the rear wheel springs suiiiciently to release the storage position locking means. It is further characteristic of the invention that the portion of the handle weight not balanced by the counter-balancing springs is sufficient to operate the wheel raising and converter barrier removing mechanism automatically as the handle is permitted to pivot downwardly to an intermediate rest position at which point the handle is releasably retained.

While I have illustrated and described the invention in considerable detail, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the arrangement, proportion and construction of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cleaning device comprising a body member, a power operated surface cleaning device on said body member positioned to engage a surface to be cleaned, and a manipulating handle pivoted to said body member for movement through an operating range, the combination of a supporting wheel for said body member, means mounting said supporting wheel for movement relative to said body member to raise and lower the surface cleaning device out of and into engagement with a supporing surface, means biasing said wheel in one direction, a member movable with said handle, a stop carried by said member, a link connected to said wheel mounting means and biased into engagement with said stop to limit movement of said wheel by said biasing means, a catch having a part shaped to engage said link, means including a pivot mounting said catch for pivotal and bodily movement relative to said member, means normally positioning said catch to engage said link and to swing about '7 said pivot shifting said link in a manner to shift said wheel against said biasing means as said handle is moved to a predetermined position, and said catch mounting means including means for shifting said pivot as said catch pivots thereon toward said link to minimize the angular movement of said handle required to actuate said catch.

2. In a surface cleaning apparatus having a body member housing a surface cleaning device and a manipulating handle attached to said body member to pivot through an operating range of movement and into and out of a storage position, the combination of means for supporting said body member including a supporting wheel and means mounting said wheel for movement relatively to said body, means biasing said wheel for movement away from said body member to lower said cleaning device into engagement with a supporting surface, a sector carried by said handle, a rod connected to said wheel mounting means and having a portion bearing on said sector to limit movement of said wheel under the action of said biasing means, a member for shifting said wheel against said biasing means to raise said cleaning device above surface cleaning position, a pivot mounting said member on said sector, and said member having a looking portion positioned to engage said rod and to rock on said pivot to shift said wheel against said biasing means as said handle is moved to a predetermined position, and means for releasably retaining said handle in said predetermined position.

3. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising a body member having a power driven agitator, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on said body member for movement from an upright storage position through a normal operating range of movement to an inclined rest position, mechanism for supporting said body member on a surface to be cleaned including surface engaging means movably mounted on said body member, means biasing said surface engaging means for movement relative to said body member, means including a link connected to said surface engaging means for normally limiting movement of said surface engaging means by said biasing means to position said agitator in operative position, and an adjusting and latching mechanism including means actuated by movement of said handle to said rest position for engaging and moving said link and said surface engaging means against said biasing means to an adjusted position to raise said agitator to an inoperative position and latching means movable by said handle to securing position when said handle is in said rest position to secure said link and said surface engaging means in said adjusted position against said biasing means and said handle in said rest position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including means carried by said handle for engaging said link when said handle is in said upright position for releasably retaining said handle in said upright position by the force of said biasing means.

5. In a suction cleaning apparatus comprising a body member having a power driven surface agitator, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on said body member for movement from an inclined rest position through a normal operating range to an upright position, front and rear supporting wheels for supporting said body member on a surface to be cleaned, means mounting said rear wheels for movement toward and away from said body member, spring means biasing said rear wheels away from said body member, a sector mounted on said handle having a circular surface about the pivotal axis of said handle, a link connected to said rear wheel mount and engaging said surface to restrain movement of said rear wheel mount by said spring means and to adjust said nozzle to a normal operating position, cam means carried by said handle movable into engagement with said link as said handle moves to said rest position to raise said rear wheel mount against said spring means to raise said agitator to an inoperative position, and latching means movable with said handle for securing said handle in said rest position and said rear wheel mount in raised position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said cam means comprises a ramp projecting from said surface to shift said link as said ramp is moved into engagement with said link and said latching means comprises a notch on said ramp engageable with said link by the force of said spring means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said cam and latching means comprises a catch member, means pivotally mounting said catch member on said handle, means providing for movement of said pivotal mounting means on opposite sides of a neutral position, said catch member having a part adapted to engage with said link and rock on said pivotal mounting means to raise said rear wheels as said handle is moved to said rest position, and means on said handle for releasably retaining said catch member with said pivotal mounting means in said neutral position and said rear wheels raised and said handle in said rest position.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a duct communicating with suction creating means in said body member and adapted to receive a tool to convert the apparatus for off-the-fioor cleaning, a. barrier member carried by said wheel mounting means normally barring the entrance to said duct and movable to a non-barring position as said wheel mounting means is shifted by said cam means to raise said agitator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,482,953 Tideman Feb. 5, 1924 1,678,111 Frantz July 24, 1928 1,791,423 Meier Feb. 3, 1931 1,950,157 White Mar. 6, 1934 2,174,595 Pierce Oct. 3, 1939 2,198,900 Becker Apr. 30, 1940 2,279,213 Troxler Apr. 7, 1942 2,329,563 Taylor Sept. 14, 1943 2,485,363 Coss Oct. 18, 1949 2,490,955 Foley Dec. 13, 1949 2,542,120 Coss Feb. 20, 1951 

